The Needham Science Center
The 2009-2010 school year marks the 45th anniversary of the Needham Science Center's founding. This year, we salute the visionaries who founded the Science Center, and thank the Needham Public Schools and the Needham residents for their continuing support.
Since our earliest days in 1964, our goal has been to make science "come alive." The Science Center strives to make science meaningful, accessible, and fun for Needham students and teachers.
Today's Science Center spearheads the Needham Public Schools K-5 Science curriculum. The Science Center staff, together with teacher representatives, are updating Needham's Kindergarten through grade 5 science curriculum to align with the current Massachusetts educational frameworks. The newly designed units are inquiry-based with our students actively doing science. Throughout this process, we stay mindful of the educational values unique to Needham, such as environmental concerns and technological know-how. In conjunction with curriculum updates, the Science Center continues to provide elementary teachers with science expertise, live animals, hands-on materials, exhibits, and programs.
The Science Center believes in the power of collaboration. We have connections with Needham-based organizations such as Green Kids, The Green Needham Collaborative, the Needham Organic Farm, and the Needham Historical Society. We have close relationships with Olin College, Wellesley College, MIT and Harvard University. We also work with facilities in other towns, including the Burlington Science Center,
Zooquarium in West Yarmouth, the Clay Center in Brookline, Aldrich Astronomical Society, Cambridge Public Schools and Boston Public Schools.
|
